Elizabeth quickly flipped pages in the textbook until she arrived at the new topic, then raised her hand. "The First Vowel reveals our inner self. That which we are not willing to show to just anyone, other than those who are extremely close to us."

Livvy thought about the question and raised her hand to answer. "The First Vowel is known to reveal move of your deeper self. It's kinda like a window or an opening that shows how you truly are. How you really are like. The kinda stuff that you don't naturally show everyone. And the First Vowel is known to be kind of a soul vibration because characteristics such as creativity and determination would be revealed. And other characteristics that you have that are kept secret," she said. She jotted down some notes of what other people said, thinking that their answers were pretty much right too. And Livvy tried her best not to 'regurgitate' the textbook. Though she had barely even looked at it over the past few days.

Karma, deciding to keep her mouth shut for once, flipped to the new chapter that Professor Shackleton mentioned.

She smirked at what her first vowel meant. Oh, how true that was.

Dominic listened intently when the Hufflepuff Head of House spoke about Albus Dumbledore. Watching her, he blinked when she walked the other way across the room, stopping only when right in front of him. As though she were expecting him to give an answer as to the interpretation of the first vowel. Something out-of-the-ordinary and not from the textbook.

Raising his hand after listening to enough ranting from the other students, the fifth year spoke with ease. "The first vowel is in reference to the first vowel in your first name, such that mine in the name 'Dominic' would be 'O'. It reveals, as others have mentioned, your inner desires. Which in this case could be related to one of the core numbers, being the Heart's desire or soul number. The first vowel is a window into your soul, showing a part of you that is not typically visible. It reveals characteristics of who you truly are."

Professor Shackleton listened to Camira's answer, "Well, you're half right. It is related to your deeper self and your instinctive approach to life, but it isn't quite the part you don't show to others. That would be more consistent with the Soul Urge number, which of course the First Vowel is related to, but is not synonymous with. It is more like how you reveal to certain people the part of you that you normally don't show. One point to your answer."

"You are correct, though your explanation is missing a key factor - that this number reveals our approach to life and through this approach, we reveal our innermost self to certain others. Two points."

"Thank you Cliff for mentioning the term 'soul vibration.' You're right in that the First Vowel is considered the soul vibration, but the major focus should be on the description of one's natural and innate approach to life that this First Vowel provides. One point to you."

"You're comment about the mask is very true, and rather poetic too. Your choice of language seems very careful. You do not make the mistake of saying that the First Vowel is synonymous with the deeper self, but you recognize that it reveals the inner self. While I would have liked to see you go a bit further into speculating how it does so, your answer is still good. Two points to you."

Professor Shackleton stepped into the circle to explain, "The ancients thought that the soul entered the body on the vibration of the first vowel of a name, which is not surprising considering the Soul Number is calculated from the vowels in a name. The First Vowel acts as a window to the soul, in so much that situations which resonate with your innate approach to life, which is revealed by the First Vowel, will allow others to see who you truly are deep down. I believe this concept will make more sense when we begin analyzing specific First Vowels."[/b]

Professor Shackleton gave them a moment to jot down some notes, then requested, "Can I have three volunteers please?"

Anna flipped through her textbook once again, looking for the information on the First Vowel. When she'd found it, she raised her hand once again. "The First Vowel refers to the very first vowel you come to when spelling your first name at birth," she began. "Interpreting the meaning of this number will help you gain a better understanding of what truly lies within you. This number will also detail your natural, instinctive approach to life. It is more or less one of the windows to a person's soul. The meaning of this number will reveal the parts of your soul that you do not readily share with most people."

When the professor asked for volunteers, Anna shot her hand into the air again. "May I please volunteer, Professor?" she asked.

Karma began to write fast again. She had enough down in her notes, but there were things that the Professor said that she hadn't even read herself in the textbook. Anything to help.

"I'll volunteer again, professor."

Karma stirred slightly in her seat.

"But if you'd like someone else, I'll let them go."

Copernicus raised his hand to volunteer as well.

Livvy raised her hand. She wanted to volunteer. "I'll volunteer Professor!"

"May I volunteer...?" Emiliano asked, quickly raising his hand.

Elizabeth scribbled down notes on what Professor Shackleton explained about the First Vowel, but when she called for volunteers again, chose not to. Several Ravenclaws had already volunteered, and the professor had only asked for three. So she placed her quill on her desk, waiting to see what was going to be next.

Professor Shackleton glanced with kind eyes at Karma as she responded, "Thank you for offering to assist me again. But as you guessed, I am going to give some of your classmates a chance to get involved too."


"You three are up! I'd like you to determine the First Vowel and read the textbook's description for that number to the class for my sisters and me. And if you feel creative, try to speculate what those qualities would reveal about that person's innermost self.

"Anna, you'll analyze my 'older' sister Isabella. Copernicus, you'll analyze me. And Livvy, you'll analyze my 'younger' sister Adamaris."

Livvy nodded her head and read the textbook's description on the First Vowel. Adamaris's First Vowel was A. A(1) It highlights individuality, creativy, leadership, and the value of one?

She raised her hand and said. "In Adamaris, the First Vowel is A. In the textbook it says that the First Vowel A reveals that your younger sister has individuality, creativity, leadership, and the value of one. I take it that she must be a creative person and can lead a group. But she chooses not to show it. She works better as one but possibly chooses to work as a group. Individuality, creativity, and leadership are all characteristics that she posesses but decides not to show. As for the value of one.. I'm not quite so sure what that might mean. I guess it could mean that she values a person.. or a life.. or she knows the value of one.." she said, trailing off as she thought about what it meant.

Copernicus cleared his throat, suddenly feeling a bit nervous about speaking in front of the class. He must be completely mad. Plymouth would mock him for days for sucking up, but at least Plymouth's favorite Gryffindor had volunteered as well.

"Well, Professor... the first vowel in the name Macadrian is the letter A. The text reads, 'Highlights individuality, creativity, leadership, and the value of one.'" He glanced at her, his ears turning red. This was awfully personal all of a sudden. Not speaking about someone old and dead, but about the professor standing right in front of him. What if she didn't like what he had to say?

"If I had to make an assumption on what this means, and it would be an assumption, Professor, because I've only just met you, I would say that the First Vowel reveals that at your heart you are a creative person who seeks solutions to problems based on your intuition rather than on what tradition dictates. I would also say that you are a leader, but not necessarily in the traditional sense. You can lead from within a group by offering support and directed questions rather than always needing the spotlight."

Anna felt like getting up and doing a quick cheer when she was finally called on to volunteer. She'd volunteered several times before, but she always seemed to be too late when raising her hand. She was more than happy to rise from her seat and step up to demonstrate the First Vowel. Anna smiled at the professor and nodded in understanding when she was told to analyze Isabella, the professor's older sister. That shouldn't be too difficult.

"The first vowel in Isabella's name is, of course, the I. The textbook gives us this information about those having an I as the First Vowel....," she began. Anna opened her textbook to the page she'd marked and began to read the information aloud.

When she was done, Anna closed her textbook once again. "Well, Professor, I'd say that your sister is probably one of those people who seem to always be considering those around her before she considers her own self. She probably seeks out ways to make others happy and healthy, maybe even sometimes sacrificing her own health and happiness. I'd say she's been known to put her heart and soul into everything that she sets out to do in life, whether that be helping other people or our environment," Anna said. She thought some more and then added, "She's probably one of those people considered to 'have a good head on her shoulders,' due to her ability to find the most creative, practical approach to making the world around her a better place."

The Grey Lady floated through the classroom wall and seated herself at an empty desk behind several Ravenclaws.

Taking notes furiously, so as not to miss anything. Liz makes note of each of the students answers, as they give them.

Seeing Ms. Ravenclaw float in, Liz gives her a smile as she floats around her toward the back.

Tobi looked up from his notes and saw a ghostly figure, a ghost to be exact. "Well, would you look at that." he murmured.

Karma jumped slightly at the entrance of The Grey Lady. As she sat near Karma, she smiled and turned to the ghost, giving her a bow of the head.

"Good day, Grey Lady," she said quietly.

Daphne felt the temperature drop right behind her. She turned around, thinking there might be a draft, and was startled by the Grey Lady. After her heart stopped pounding, she smiled at the ghost. Despite wanting to pretend as if this was completely normal, Daphne found herself totally distracted by her presence, and kept turning her head to get a peek.

"Shhh," she said and kept her attention on the Arithmancy professor.

Professor Shackleton listened to each volunteer's assessment of the First Vowel and was rather impressed by their creative speculation. While all of those theories were certainly plausible, they were all very optimistic. "You three have done a very nice job. Your assessments were very positive, clearly looking for the best in each of us. But now I'd like you also to consider the flipside of that optimism, how these traits might lead my sisters and I to a different, perhaps negative, quality within ourselves."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grey Lady

The Grey Lady floated through the classroom wall and seated herself at an empty desk behind several Ravenclaws.

Observing the ghost take a seat in her classroom, Professor Shackleton still found it strange to see ghosts within the walls of the castle. Sure, she'd dealt with ghosts before, haunting various places she'd been sent to inspect for Gringotts, but it was a different experience here at Hogwarts. Nodding toward the ghost, Professor Shackleton smiled slightly.

A ghostly hand was raised. "What is the purpose of searching for the negative?" Helena Ravenclaw asked the professor. She appears to be intelligent and sound of mind....

It was slightly distracting to take classes with a ghost. Kind of like when his great grandmother watched him fix things. Still, he tried to pay attention to his note taking. He didn't want to look foolish if he were called on.

The temperature in the room had dropped markedly, Tobi noticed, as the Grey Lady was only a stones throw to his left. Tobi always sat at the very back because he was so very tall it would be utterly unfair to other students if he sat anywhere else.

Copernicus smiled wryly. "I suppose the downside of being an individual is the single-minded belief that your way is right above all other ways. A tendency, especially when that person desires to be a leader, to pursue theories and solutions through to their natural end rather than listening to the contributions of those around you. I mean around... that person." Great, insult the professor while you're at it, Copernicus. "And... er... there is nothing intrinsically wrong in making use of traditions. They were successful for a reason and shouldn't be discarded in a blind effort to do something new and different."